North Gaza Horrors of siege hidden by blockade and blackout

When internet connectivity returned to Jabaliya in northern Gaza after another blackout last Thursday, Al Jazeera journalist Anas al-Sharif used social media to describe the situation during the hours the area was offline.

- Bethan McKernan Jerusalem Malak A Tantesh Gaza

Israeli airstrikes hit several houses in the al-Hawaja neighborhood, killing or wounding an estimated 150 people, but the exact number remained unknown.

The intensifying Israeli siege of Jabaliya and other parts of northern Gaza, enforced by tanks and ground troops, prevented civil defense teams and medics from rescuing those trapped under rubble. No reporters, except al-Sharif, who lives nearby, could reach the area. "No civil defense, no coverage, only death and destruction," he said in a video from the quiet, dark street. "No one is coming to save them."

Days later, there were still no official accounts of the strikes on al-Hawaja, a situation repeated across northern Gaza. Movement and communication became increasingly difficult after four weeks of renewed Israeli attacks.